Emerging Tech

Tongonan: A Symbol of Resilience, Progress, and Sustainability

Tongonan - A Symbol of Resilience, Progress, and Sustainability

The Philippines has long been hailed as the world’s third-largest producer of geothermal power, thanks in large part to Leyte’s 40-year-old Tongonan 1 facility. Generating power from natural steam was a revolutionary concept back in 1983, and the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant’s operation placed the Philippines at the forefront of this innovation.

40 years later, Tongonan 1 is a testament to the Energy Development Corp.’s (EDC) remarkable feat of harnessing geothermal energy. The EDC has become the world’s largest vertically integrated renewable energy company, and it is still continuing to refine and expand its expertise in developing indigenous energy resources.

Gaining Steam

EDC’s roots trace back to the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), established in the 1970s to explore local energy sources in response to the global oil crisis. After years of meticulous exploration and development, PNOC-EDC proudly inaugurated the Tongonan-1 plant on July 2, 1983.

This dedication to enhancing the country’s renewable energy capacity has remained unwavering, even as the Lopez Group acquired PNOC-EDC’s geothermal operations in 2007, further elevating the company’s level of operations and service under the Energy Development Corp. banner.

Running on its Own Steam

The Tongonan facility, with its impressive 123-megawatt (MW) capacity, has been delivering reliable, round-the-clock clean energy for the Filipino people for the past 4 decades. Geothermal energy generation taps into the natural heat and steam deep beneath the earth’s surface, offering a consistent and uninterrupted source of clean power, unlike other renewable options like solar, hydroelectric, and wind, which can be affected by weather conditions.

Over the years, the expansive Leyte complex has grown to an impressive 715.3 MW operation, cementing it as the nation’s largest geothermal energy source and the world’s largest wet steam field.

What is truly remarkable is that this geothermal power plant has been able to continue its operations well beyond the typical 25-year lifespan of facilities of similar scale. This longevity is due in large part to the knowledge developed by the company’s personnel. Today, the EDC has 31 production wells and nine reinjection wells across the Philippines.

Full Steam Ahead

The innovative spirit that the EDC has shown since the 80s has not slowed down in the slightest. Instead, the company has embarked on an expanded mission to “forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future” after achieving record-high earnings in 2023.

This means the EDC is heavily investing in diverse renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydropower, to support the country’s vision of reducing its reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation. Currently, coal dominates the power sector, contributing almost half of the electricity supply. However, the national government has set an ambitious goal of increasing the share of renewable energy by 2030.

The EDC is playing a crucial role in realizing this vision by tapping into more geothermal resources. The company is looking to add 50 MW from a Mindanao plant, which can power around 20,000 households per megawatt.

Leading the Clean Energy Revolution

Today, the EDC has become the undisputed leader in renewable energy production, accounting for 20% of the country’s total installed renewable energy capacity with an impressive 1,476.59 MW of installed capacity. With geothermal as its primary energy source, EDC’s 1,181.80 MW represents a substantial 61% of the country’s total renewable energy capacity. With its impressive clean energy portfolio, 

The company boasts an impressive clean energy portfolio, with additional contributions from wind (150 MW), hydroelectric (132.5 MW), and solar energy (11.9 MW) sources.

The EDC’s integrated geothermal power plants are strategically located in various regions, including Leyte, Bicol, Southern Negros, and North Cotabato. It also holds numerous wind service contracts (SCs) covering areas in Ilocos Norte, Sorsogon, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental, as well as solar energy SCs covering areas in Ilocos Norte, Negros Occidental, North Cotabato, and Cebu.

Through its subsidiary, First Gen Hydro Power Corp. (First Gen HPC), EDC also operates two hydroelectric power plants, Masiway and Pantabangan. Recently, the company acquired the rights to manage the 165-MW Casecnan hydroelectric plant in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.

In 2020, the EDC’s renewable energy production made up a significant 42% of the country’s total generated renewable energy.

Beyond Power Generation

Meanwhile, the EDC’s environmental initiatives, such as the BINHI regreening program, focus on preserving endangered native trees to safeguard the water resources crucial for geothermal energy production. The company’s KEITECH Educational Foundation offers vocational training and scholarships to empower underserved high school graduates, equipping them with skills for in-demand industries such as construction, metals, engineering, tourism, and hospitality.

During national crises, including Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Tongonan facility served as a reliable base for EDC’s community support and disaster relief efforts. These initiatives have left a lasting positive impact on EDC’s stakeholders in Leyte, becoming an integral part of the Tongonan geothermal power plant’s legacy within the province.

In January 2023, EDC introduced its fifth BINHI Vegetative Materials Reproduction (VMR) Nursery in Tongonan, Leyte. The VMR will enable EDC BINHI to collaborate with regional partners in distributing native tree species and promoting reforestation as a vital strategy in combating climate change.

A Legacy Forged in Steam

Amidst the global shift towards sustainable energy, the Tongonan geothermal power plant stands as a prized asset of EDC, embodying the Philippines’ role in the international energy landscape. As emphasized by EDC president Jerome H. Cainglet in 2023 during the 40th anniversary of the first Tongonan plant, “It is clear that the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant is not just a power generation facility. It stands as a symbol of our collective potential to overcome challenges, to innovate, and to create a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.”

Source: Tongonan: Symbol of resilience, progress, sustainability